Fall, winter great seasons to fish

September 07, 2007|By Bill Antonides, Special to theFarm Forum

Life is tough for men and women who like to hunt and fish in South Dakota. Oh sure, it's fine most of the year, but the dog days of late summer bring blazing heat and biting flies. The fish retreat into deep, cooler waters, forcing fishermen to work harder for the day's catch. The only things to hunt are varmints, and even they spend most of the day in shady burrows. September finally brings cooler temperatures as the sun rides lower across the sky. Lunker walleyes come alive, perch and panfish are fat and sassy, and fishing starts to pick up again. But dove, Canada goose and grouse seasons also open, followed by duck, pheasant and big game. Fishing season is open all year, but the major hunting seasons are limited to a few fall and winter months. The poor sportsman doesn't know whether to pack up a gun or a fishing pole. The truth is he or she can pack both. Some of the state's finest hunting is often found near great fishing waters. More than one waterfowl hunter on the Missouri River has trolled a lure behind the boat on the way to a duck blind. Walleye filets go well with baked goose. With a noon or even 10 a.m. opener for pheasants, it is entirely plausible to hunt waterfowl at sunrise, bag a limit of roosters around lunch time, and spend the late afternoon and early evening fishing. The hardest part is taking proper care of the game and making excuses for being gone all day. Another great benefit of fall fishing is the relative absence of pleasure boaters, personal watercraft and even other fishermen. Fishermen may find themselves nearly alone at a normally busy waterway. Don't presume the absence of other fishermen necessarily signals poor fishing. It is more likely an indicator of the huge variety of other sports and activities people are involved in. There does come a day, generally in November, when the lakes and rivers freeze over. Depending on the weather, it may be days, weeks or even longer before the ice is safe enough to travel on. Even though fishing soon after ice-up is generally very good, it might be best to stick to hunting until there is more hard water between you and the wet stuff. Unless you can find open water, clean your reels and put on new line so they're ready for next year, and get your ice fishing gear out of the back of the garage so you're ready to go. November is a great time to hunt, because you don't have to feel guilty about not going fishing. Some folks may even take a day to rake leaves and put up insulation around doors and windows. Just don't get too carried away with the projects. The ducks and geese are heading south, and the deer aren't going to come to you. When the ice is ready, the fish will be too. You might have to look for them, which is a little harder when you need to drill holes rather than turn on the trolling motor. When you do find them, the action is worth the wait. Walleyes are king, but perch and panfish are also highly sought after prizes. Preserving your catch is easy. Just put your fish on the ice. If you don't want company, you might want to cover them up with a little snow or a bucket. The sight of freshly caught fish will attract other anglers to your spot like flies to honey. Life can be tough for South Dakota sportsmen, especially in the fall. There are way too many choices to make and places to go. But they like it that way.